Originally published in 1907, The Shepherd of the Hills is Harold Bell Wright's most famous work. In The Shepherd of the Hills, Wright spins a tale of universal truths across the years to the modern-day reader. His Eden in the Ozarks has a bountiful share of life's enchantments, but is not without its serpents. While Wright rejoices in the triumphs, grace, and dignity of his characters, he has not naively created a pastoral fantasyland where the pure at heart are spared life's struggles and pains. Refusing to yield to the oft-indulged temptation of painting for the reader the simple life of country innocents, Wright forthrightly shows the passions and the life-and-death struggles that go on even in the fairest of environments that man invades. The shepherd, an elderly, mysterious, learned man, escapes the buzzing restlessness of the city to live in the backwoods neighborhood of Mutton Hollow in the Ozark hills. There he encounters Jim Lane, Grant Matthews, Sammy, Young Matt, and other residents of the village, and gradually learns to find a peace about the losses he has borne and has yet to bear. Through the shepherd and those around him, Wright assembles here a gentle and utterly masterful commentary on strength and weakness, failure and success, tranquility and turmoil, and punishment and absolution. This tale of life in the Ozarks continues to draw thousands of devotees to outdoor performances in Branson, Missouri, where visitors can also see the cabin where the real Old Matt and Aunt Mollie lived.

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Listener Opinions

Christine | 2/19/2014

" an old sentimental favourite "

Kolette | 2/16/2014

" New goal: to become a "sure-enough lady" "

Ronald | 2/15/2014

" I enjoyed the book. It is a good read for any age. A standard classic that speaks to the character of life that shapes our lives. "

Kdeanne | 2/9/2014

" I found this book in a box of western novels I had purchased at a garage sale. Truly an amazing story! I love the way it is written and the message it shares with the reader. Definitely a favorite! "

Teressa | 2/4/2014

" Wonderful book! Mutton hollow feels like a very familiar place! A great story of triumph, forgiveness, redemption and much more! A classic and a must read. "

Samantha | 1/20/2014

" My family and I found ourselves on an unplanned trip to Branson a week ago. While there, at a little store, I found this "gold nugget". I had never heard of Shepherd on the Hills nor the author before and the back of the book read "Fourth best selling book ever published and second most sold next to the Bible". This sparked my interest. So, I bought it and began reading. It is by far one of the BEST books I have ever read. The details of each scene were perfect. Everytime I opened it I felt as if I were there witnessing with my own eyes and I felt that I personally knew the characters. It made me want to live back in those times. I wouldn't say it was a christian book but it was "wholesome", and I recommend young teenagers read it for a good character reading. I am now going to find more books by this author. "

Brittni | 1/19/2014

" Brilliant. This is absolutely my favorite book and it has been ever since I read it for the first time several years ago. By the way, I'm in high school! I love the realism of the dialect and the whimsical nature of the plot. My family and I have been visiting Branson, Missouri since before I was born and this book captures the true essence of what the Ozarks are--not a gaudy tourist trap, but a beautiful landscape rich with character and history. I've read this book three times and will definitely be reading it again and again. I plan to read this book to my children in the future. "

Janet Stock | 1/13/2014

" I learned a lot about the history of Missouri. I picked this up on a trip to Branson. The original homestad is still there and they reenact the play and have demonstrations of life on the frontier at the turn of the 19th century. Really fun! "

Sandy | 1/13/2014

" It was written in the early 1900's. The story line was based on fact so that was interesting. He wrote in the language of the area, the Ozarks, so that was difficult to decipher at times. I guess anyone who lives in the Ozarks should read it, but the general public probably wouldn't find it so interesting. "

Stephanie | 12/22/2013

" This is a wonderful old book that I read many, many years ago, so I wanted to re- read it. It is set in the ozark mountains in Missouri where my grandparents live, and where I lived for 5 years. I love this book! "

Ashleyshell | 12/21/2013

" This has been one of my favorite books throughout my life, and I have read it many times. Partly I love it because I grew up in the Ozarks, the story's setting, but I also love the story. The characters are dear old friends to me. "

Robert | 12/17/2013

" A touching book about Christian simplicity. "

Sadie | 9/30/2013

" This book is wonderful. A good (moral of the story) book. All of his books have a great principal to be learned with a little mystery intertwined. I highly recommend all of his books to anyone. "

Imjyfl | 9/12/2013

" This book has been on my bookshelf for years. The strangest thing was when I was reading it I realized I was familiar with the story already. Maybe I read it before, I can't remember. Anyway, it was an enjoyable story with likable characters. "

Melissa | 9/3/2013

" I read this when I was in Branson, Missouri on vacation. It brought things to life for me and gave the place a story. "

Camille Willis | 3/30/2013

" I grew up having this read to me and then read it to my kids. It is very special! Enjoy! "

Mendi | 2/1/2013

" My favorite book. What can be better than a mystery, love story and drama all rolled into one? "

Terri | 10/19/2012

" I read this on my Nook. It was a free download and the format was terrible, so I didn't have the best experience. The story was good, but a little slow. "

Angie Knight | 9/24/2012

" This is one of those books that I have read a dozen times and NEVER get tired of reading. Its just a beautiful book. "

Jody Mena | 7/30/2012

" Such a sad and beautiful tale. It makes me nostalgic for the Ozarks. "

Gayle | 6/27/2012

" This was our book club selection this month and I really enjoyed it. It was a bit of a challenge at times to understand the dialect used, but I thought there were some great messages of finding peace and forgiving others. "

Caitlin Baker | 5/20/2012

" This was an awesome book! I had been meaning to read it since moving to the Ozarks, and I was not disappointed. There is so much about life, love, and God in this book. It renewed my perspective on life! "

Abby | 3/16/2012

" i absolutly love this book!! it is definatly one of my go to books! "

Joanna | 9/1/2011

" Wonderful story, very well written. I've read this book many many times.
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Caitlin | 8/9/2011

" This was an awesome book! I had been meaning to read it since moving to the Ozarks, and I was not disappointed. There is so much about life, love, and God in this book. It renewed my perspective on life!
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Jody | 8/2/2011

" Such a sad and beautiful tale. It makes me nostalgic for the Ozarks.
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Michelle | 7/9/2011

" Great story about some of the first settlers in the hills of the Ozarks. Really sweet and enjoyable story.
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Christina | 4/22/2011

" Wonderful little love story located here in Missouri. I had trouble with the speech of the book in the beginning but once I got past that and recognized all the slang then the book was wonderful. I laughed, I cried, and over all felt a great desire to keep myself rooted to who I am always.
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Melissa | 2/28/2011

" I read this when I was in Branson, Missouri on vacation. It brought things to life for me and gave the place a story.
"

Matthew | 2/22/2011

" Its interesting to see what life would have been like around where I live at that time. It was good but hard to follow at times.
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Angie | 2/11/2011

" This is one of those books that I have read a dozen times and NEVER get tired of reading. Its just a beautiful book.
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Tricia | 9/27/2010

" This was a great book ... good love story and mystery too
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David | 8/23/2010

" A simple book about simple people, and it has a bit of mystery too... I hate to admit that I understood the "them dars", "dat dars" along the way, but I really enjoyed it.
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Bonnie | 7/20/2010

" haven't read this in about 10 years. it takes place very near where my grandparents live and where my mom spent a lot of time growing up. ive also seen it performed live a bunch of times. a good story, full of memories for me.
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Cwl | 2/23/2010

" Satisfyingly written and offering an interesting, almost Emersonian take on Christianity. Far from the Madding Crowd's perky giant younger brother.
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Other Titles by Harold Bell Wright:

About the Author

Harold Bell Wright (1872–1944) was a bestselling American writer of fiction, essays, and nonfiction during the first half of the twentieth century. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the century, he is said to have been the first American writer to sell a million copies of a novel and the first to make $1 million from writing fiction. More than twenty-one movies were made or claimed to have been made from his stories, including Gary Cooper’s first major movie, The Winning of Barbara Worth, and the John Wayne film The Shepherd of the Hills. The author’s religious practices first led him to write, and all of his books address particular problems. Behind all of his works lies the simple desire to write about the goodness of mankind.

About the Narrator

Robin Field is the AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator of numerous audiobooks, as well as an award-winning actor, singer, writer, and lyricist whose career has spanned six decades. He has starred on and off Broadway, headlined at Carnegie Hall, authored numerous musical reviews, and hosted or performed on a number of television and radio programs over the years.

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